Broccoli hybrid px 05181827 and parents thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of broccoli hybrid PX 05181827 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of broccoli hybrid PX 05181827 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a broccoli plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another broccoli plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of broccoli hybrid PX 05181827 and theparent broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a broccoli plant of thehybrid designated PX 05181827 the broccoli line BRM 51-1221 CMS orbroccoli line BRL 51-99 SC*HP99. Also provided are broccoli plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of such aplant. Parts of these broccoli plants are also provided, for example,including pollen, an ovule, a floret, a head, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of broccoli hybrid PX05181827 and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99comprising an added heritable trait is provided. The heritable trait maycomprise a genetic locus that is, for example, a dominant or recessiveallele. In one embodiment of the invention, a plant of broccoli hybridPX 05181827 and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99is defined as comprising a single locus conversion. In specificembodiments of the invention, an added genetic locus confers one or moretraits such as, for example, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance,disease resistance, and modified carbohydrate metabolism. In furtherembodiments, the trait may be conferred by a naturally occurring geneintroduced into the genome of a line by backcrossing, a natural orinduced mutation, or a transgene introduced through genetictransformation techniques into the plant or a progenitor of any previousgeneration thereof. When introduced through transformation, a geneticlocus may comprise one or more genes integrated at a single chromosomallocation.

The invention also concerns the seed of broccoli hybrid PX 05181827and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99. Thebroccoli seed of the invention may be provided, in particularembodiments, as an essentially homogeneous population of broccoli seedof broccoli hybrid PX 05181827 and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS andBRL 51-99 SC*HP99. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed aregenerally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seedof hybrid PX 05181827 and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL51-99 SC*HP99 may be provided, in certain embodiments of the invention,as forming at least about 97% of the total seed, including at leastabout 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seed population may beseparately grown to provide an essentially homogeneous population ofbroccoli plants designated PX 05181827 and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a broccoli plant of hybrid PX 05181827 and/or broccoli linesBRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99 is provided. The tissue culturewill preferably be capable of regenerating broccoli plants capable ofexpressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially thesame genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid PX05181827 and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99include those traits set forth in the tables herein. The regenerablecells in such tissue cultures may be derived, for example, from embryos,meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips,pistils, flowers, seed and stalks. Still further, the present inventionprovides broccoli plants regenerated from a tissue culture of theinvention, the plants having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of hybrid PX 05181827 and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing broccoli seeds, plants and parts thereof, which processesgenerally comprise crossing a first parent broccoli plant with a secondparent broccoli plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent broccoli plants is a plant of broccoli line BRM 51-1221 CMS orbroccoli line BRL 51-99 SC*HP99. These processes may be furtherexemplified as processes for preparing hybrid broccoli seed or plants,wherein a first broccoli plant is crossed with a second broccoli plantof a different, distinct genotype to provide a hybrid that has, as oneof its parents, a plant of broccoli line BRM 51-1221 CMS or broccoliline BRL 51-99 SC*HP99. In these processes, crossing will result in theproduction of seed. The seed production occurs regardless of whether theseed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent broccoli plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent broccoli plants into plants that bear flowers. A thirdstep may comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent broccoli plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent broccoli plants.The harvested seed can be grown to produce a broccoli plant or hybridbroccoli plant.

The present invention also provides the broccoli seeds and plantsproduced by a process that comprises crossing a first parent broccoliplant with a second parent broccoli plant, wherein at least one of thefirst or second parent broccoli plants is a plant of broccoli hybrid PX05181827 and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99. Inone embodiment of the invention, broccoli seed and plants produced bythe process are first generation (F₁) hybrid broccoli seed and plantsproduced by crossing a plant in accordance with the invention withanother, distinct plant. The present invention further contemplatesplant parts of such an F₁ hybrid broccoli plant, and methods of usethereof. Therefore, certain exemplary embodiments of the inventionprovide an F₁ hybrid broccoli plant and seed thereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid PX 05181827 and/or broccoli linesBRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99, the method comprising the stepsof: (a) preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid PX 05181827 and/orbroccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99, wherein saidpreparing comprises crossing a plant of the hybrid PX 05181827 and/orbroccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99 with a secondplant; and (b) crossing the progeny plant with itself or a second plantto produce a seed of a progeny plant of a subsequent generation. Infurther embodiments, the method may additionally comprise: (c) growing aprogeny plant of a subsequent generation from said seed of a progenyplant of a subsequent generation and crossing the progeny plant of asubsequent generation with itself or a second plant; and repeating thesteps for an additional 3-10 generations to produce a plant derived fromhybrid PX 05181827 and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99SC*HP99. The plant derived from hybrid PX 05181827 and/or broccoli linesBRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99 may be an inbred line, and theaforementioned repeated crossing steps may be defined as comprisingsufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line. In the method, it maybe desirable to select particular plants resulting from step (c) forcontinued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). By selecting plantshaving one or more desirable traits, a plant derived from hybrid PX05181827 and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99 isobtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of the line/hybridas well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of broccolihybrid PX 05181827 and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99SC*HP99, wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b)collecting tissue of the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofbroccoli hybrid PX 05181827 and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS andBRL 51-99 SC*HP99 is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is usedto refer to the aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression ofwhich sequences defines the phenotype of, in the present case, abroccoli plant, or a cell or tissue of that plant. A genetic complementthus represents the genetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and ahybrid genetic complement represents the genetic make up of a hybridcell, tissue or plant. The invention thus provides broccoli plant cellsthat have a genetic complement in accordance with the broccoli plantcells disclosed herein, and plants, seeds and plants containing suchcells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid PX 05181827 and/or broccoli lines BRM51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99 could be identified by any of the manywell known techniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence LengthPolymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly AmplifiedPolymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF),Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary PrimedPolymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment LengthPolymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporated herein byreference in its entirety), and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs)(Wang et al., 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by broccoli plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a broccoli plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second broccoli plant, preferably, another, distinctbroccoli plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides abroccoli plant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybridgenetic complement of this invention.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method ofdetermining the genotype of a plant of broccoli hybrid PX 05181827and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99 comprisingdetecting in the genome of the plant at least a first polymorphism. Themethod may, in certain embodiments, comprise detecting a plurality ofpolymorphisms in the genome of the plant. The method may furthercomprise storing the results of the step of detecting the plurality ofpolymorphisms on a computer readable medium. The invention furtherprovides a computer readable medium produced by such a method.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of broccoli hybrid PX 05181827 and/or broccolilines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99. The hybrid PX 05181827 wasproduced by the cross of parent lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99SC*HP99. The parent lines show uniformity and stability within thelimits of environmental influence. By crossing the parent lines, uniformplants of hybrid PX 05181827 can be obtained.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Broccoli Hybrid PX 05181827

The parents of hybrid PX 05181827 are BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99SC*HP99, often with BRM 51-1221 CMS used as a female parent, forexample. These parents were created as follows.

The line BRL 51-99 SC*HP99 was previously described in the patentapplication for PX 0515 1639 (U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/859,034). The female parent and maintainer(BRM-51-1221A×BRM-51-1222B) were developed from a cross between2223-178-5 and a cytoplasmic male sterile hybrid. There were 6generations of back crossing and selection for phenotype characterscommon in 2223-178-5 and levels of isothiocyanates MSP and MSBindicative of the 2223-178-5 parent. The Backcross 6 population wasproduced in the greenhouse at Arroyo Grande research Station in2009/2010 from the cross (2713-1672-1×1665)×2839-229-2) which was namedBRM-51-1221A (CMS) and the maintainer 2839-229-2 which was namedBRM-51-1222B (SC). Seed was bulked from this hand cross and used as abreeder source. Grow out in 2010 indicated that the phenotype and levelsof MSP and PSB were consistent with the previous generation.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Broccoli Hybrid PX05181827, Broccoli Line BRM 51-1221 CMS and Broccoli Line BRL 51-99SC*HP99

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of broccoli hybrid PX 05181827 and the parent linesthereof. A description of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of such plants is presented in Tables 1-3.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Hybrid PX05181827 Characteristic PX 05181827 PS 05151639 A Region of Adaptationpacific coast pacific coast B Maturity, Fall Planted days from directseeding to 110 104 50% harvest sowing date 24-Jun-10 24-Jun-10 50%harvest date 12-Oct-10 6-Oct-10 days from transplanting to 50%  57  51harvest transplanting date 16-Aug-10 16-Aug-10 length of harvest periodin  1  1 days first harvest date 12-Oct-10 6-Oct-10 last harvest date12-Oct-10 6-Oct-10 harvest season (main crop at summer/fall summer/fall50% harvest) time of harvest maturity (50% medium (Sumosun) medium ofplants) time of beginning of flowering medium** medium (50% of plantswith at least (Coaster, Cruiser) 10% flowers) C Seedling cotyledon colormedium green medium green RHS color chart value for 137A 138A seedlingcotyledon color cotyledon anthocyanin weak weak hypocotyl anthocyaninintermediate intermediate D Plant plant height in centimeters  64.1 70.2 from soil line to top of leaves head height in centimeters from40.8 cm 41.8 cm soil line to top of leaves height at harvest maturitymedium (Coaster) medium number of stems one (Ramoso one Calabrese,Shogun) branches few few habit intermediate intermediate market classboth both life cycle annual annual type of variety first generationhybrid first generation hybrid E Leaves outer leaves: number of leaves 10.6  12.3 per plant (at harvest) outer leaves: width (at 14.4 cm 13.9cm midpoint of plant including petiole) Leaf: width broad (Claudia,broad Esquire, New Prince) outer leaves: length (at 56.7 cm 59.06 cmmidpoint of plant including petiole) leaf: length (including petiole)long (Green Duke, long Laser) outer leaves: petiole length 24.4 cm 25.3cm petiole: length long (Groene long Calabrese, Premium Crop) outerleaves: leaf ratio - 4:1 4:1 length/width outer leaves: leaf attachmentpetiolate petiolate outer leaves: wax presence strong strong leaf:number of lobes medium (Coaster, medium Topper) outer leaves: foliagecolor medium green medium green (with wax, if present) outer leaves:foliage color 137A 137A (with wax, if present; RHS color chart value)leaf blade: color green (Claudia, green Verflor) leaf blade: intensityof color medium medium leaf blade: anthocyanin absent (Claudia, absentcoloration Embassy) leaf blade: undulation of weak (Beaufort, Early weakmargin Pack, Laser, Paladin) leaf blade: dentation of margin weak(Galaxy) weak outer leaves: leaf shape broad elliptic broad ellipticouter leaves: leaf base blunt blunt outer leaves: leaf apex blunt bluntouter leaves: leaf margins slightly wavy slightly wavy outer leaves:leaf veins intermediate intermediate outer leaves: midrib Slightlyraised raised leaf blade: blistering weak (Coaster, Gem) medium petiole:anthocyanin coloration absent (Claudia, absent of leaf petiole Embassy)outer leaves: attitude (leaf semi-erect (35-55 semi-erect angle fromground) degrees) leaf: attitude (at beginning of semi-erect (Arcadia,semi-erect head formation) Asti, Civet, Claudia) outer leaves: torsionof leaf tip intermediate weak outer leaves: profile of upper concaveplanar side of leaf F Head length of branching at base long (Laser,Kayak) medium (excluding stem) diameter at widest point (at 18.06 cm16.6 cm market maturity) depth (at market maturity) 12.4 cm 12.1 cmweight, market trimmed (at 404.4 gm 376.7 gm market maturity) color (atmarket maturity) medium green (Idol, medium green Verflor) intensity ofcolor medium medium RHS color chart value for head 137A 137A coloranthocyanin coloration absent (Early White absent Sprouting) shape (atmarket maturity) transverse broad transverse broad elliptic (Admiral,elliptic Corvet) dome shape (at market domed domed maturity) size (atmarket maturity) for US large** (Caravel, large Exhibit C only **choiceMercedes, Packman) compactness/firmness (at medium (Late Corona) mediummarket maturity) surface knobbling (at market medium (Southern mediummaturity) Comet) texture medium (Clipper, medium Coaster) bead size (atmarket maturity) medium medium flower buds (at market even in size evenin size maturity) anthocyanin coloration of leaf absent absent axils (atmarket maturity) anthocyanin coloration of leaf absent absent veins (atmarket maturity) anthocyanin coloration of leaf absent absent blade (atmarket maturity) anthocyanin coloration of entire absent absent plant(at market maturity) anthocyanin coloration of leaf absent absentpetiole (at market maturity) color of head leaves (at market green greenmaturity) RHS color chart value for the 137A 137A color of head leavesbracts absent (Gem, Orion) absent secondary heads (at market completelyabsent** Completely absent maturity) **choice for UPOV (Scorpio, Zeus)TG only number of secondary heads (at  0  0 market maturity) G FlowerColor cream cream Color 11D 1D Stalk color Green green Stalk color N138D137D Male Sterility present (Chevalier, present Montop) *These aretypical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values thatare substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line BRM51-1221 CMS Characteristic BRM 51-1221 CMS Heritage A Region ofAdaptation pacific coast pacific coast B Maturity, Fall Planted daysfrom direct seeding to 50% 104 111 harvest sowing date 24-Jun-1024-Jun-10 50% harvest date 6-Oct-10 13-Oct-10 days from transplanting to50%  51  58 harvest transplanting date 16-Aug-10 16-Aug-10 length ofharvest period in days  1  1 first harvest date 6-Oct-10 13-Oct-10 lastharvest date 6-Oct-10 13-Oct-10 harvest season (main crop at summer/fallsummer/fall 50% harvest) time of harvest maturity (50% medium (Sumosun)medium of plants) time of beginning of flowering medium** medium (50% ofplants with at least (Coaster, Cruiser) 10% flowers) **choice for UPOVTG only C Seedling cotyledon color medium green medium green RHS colorchart value for 137A 138A seedling cotyledon color cotyledon anthocyaninweak absent hypocotyl anthocyanin intermediate weak D Plant plant heightin centimeters from 57.8 cm 69.2 cm soil line to top of leaves headheight in centimeters from 38.5 cm 43.2 cm soil line to top of leavesheight at harvest maturity medium (Coaster) tall number of stems one(Ramoso one Calabrese, Shogun) branches few few habit intermediateintermediate market class both both life cycle annual annual type ofvariety inbred First generation hybrid E Leaves outer leaves: number ofleaves  17.6  12.8 per plant (at harvest) outer leaves: width (at 14.1cm 15.3 cm midpoint of plant including petiole) Leaf: width narrowmedium (Arcadia, Brigadeer) outer leaves: length (at 52.1 cm 57.8 cmmidpoint of plant including petiole) leaf: length (including petiole)long (Green Duke, long Laser) outer leaves: petiole length 26.2 cm 24.9cm petiole: length long (Groene medium Calabrese, Premium Crop) outerleaves: leaf ratio - 4:1 4:1 length/width outer leaves: leaf attachmentpetiolate petiolate outer leaves: wax presence strong strong leaf:number of lobes few (Early White Absent or very few Sprouting) outerleaves: foliage color medium green medium green (with wax, if present)outer leaves: foliage color 137A 137A (with wax, if present; RHS colorchart value) leaf blade: color green (Claudia, green Verflor) Intensityof color medium medium leaf blade: anthocyanin absent (Claudia, absentcoloration Embassy) leaf blade: undulation of margin medium (Citation)weak leaf blade: dentation of margin weak (Galaxy) weak outer leaves:leaf shape narrow elliptic elliptic outer leaves: leaf base blunt bluntouter leaves: leaf apex blunt blunt outer leaves: leaf margins slightlywavy straight outer leaves: leaf veins intermediate intermediate outerleaves: midrib raised Slightly raised leaf blade: blistering absent orvery weak absent or very weak (Buccaneer, Colibri) petiole: anthocyanincoloration absent (Claudia, absent of leaf petiole Embassy) outerleaves: attitude (leaf erect (80-100 degrees) semi-erect angle fromground) leaf: attitude (at beginning of semi-erect (Arcadia, semi-erecthead formation) Asti, Civet, Claudia) outer leaves: torsion of leaf tipweak none outer leaves: profile of upper planar concave side of leaf FHead length of branching at base medium (Capitol, short (excluding stem)Green Duke, Perseus) diameter at widest point (at 12.8 cm 17.6 cm marketmaturity) depth (at market maturity) 9.3 cm 9.6 cm weight, markettrimmed (at 197.4 gm 395.3 gm market maturity) color (at marketmaturity) medium green (Idol, medium green Verflor) intensity of colormedium medium RHS color chart value for head 137A 137A color anthocyanincoloration absent (Early White absent Sprouting) shape (at marketmaturity) circular (Esquire) circular dome shape (at market domed domedmaturity) size (at market maturity) for US medium** (Dundee, largeExhibit C only **choice Early Man) compactness/firmness (at shortpedicels/tight/ medium market maturity) firm (Captain) surface knobbling(at market medium (Southern medium maturity) Comet) texture fine(Auriga, Bishop, medium Green Top) bead size (at market maturity) smallmedium flower buds (at market even in size even in size maturity)anthocyanin coloration of leaf absent absent axils (at market maturity)anthocyanin coloration of leaf absent absent veins (at market maturity)anthocyanin coloration of leaf absent absent blade (at market maturity)anthocyanin coloration of entire absent absent plant (at marketmaturity) anthocyanin coloration of leaf absent absent petiole (atmarket maturity) color of head leaves (at market green green maturity)RHS color chart value for the 137A 137A color of head leaves bractspresent (Ramoso absent Calabrese) secondary heads (at market completelyabsent** completely absent maturity) **choice for UPOV (Scorpio, Zeus)TG only number of secondary heads (at  0  0 market maturity) G Flowercolor cream yellow color RHS color chart value for 4D 5C flower colorstalk color green green RHS Color Chart value for 139B 137C flower stalkcolor male sterility present (Chevalier, present Montop) *These aretypical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other values thatare substantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line BRL51-99 SC*HP99 Characteristic BRL 51-99 SC*HP99 Heritage A Region ofAdaptation pacific coast pacific coast B Maturity, Fall Planted daysfrom direct seeding to 50% 120 111 harvest sowing date 24-Jun-1024-Jun-10 50% harvest date 22-Oct-10 13-Oct-10 days from transplantingto 50%  67  58 harvest transplant date 16-Aug-10 16-Aug-10 length ofharvest period in days  1  1 first harvest date 22-Oct-10 13-Oct-10 lastharvest date 22-Oct-10 13-Oct-10 harvest season (main crop atsummer/fall summer/fall 50% harvest) time of harvest maturity (50%medium (Sumosun) medium of plants) time of beginning of floweringmedium** (Coaster, medium (50% of plants with at least Cruiser) 10%flowers) **choice for UPOV TG only C Seedling cotyledon color mediumgreen medium green RHS color chart value for 137B 138A seedlingcotyledon color cotyledon anthocyanin weak absent hypocotyl anthocyaninweak weak D Plant plant height in centimeters from 50 cm 69.2 cm soilline to top of head head height in centimeters from 33.3 cm 43.2 cm soilline to top of head height at harvest maturity Short tall number ofstems one (Ramoso Calabrese, one Shogun) branches few few habit Compactintermediate market class both both life cycle annual annual type ofvariety inbred First generation hybrid E Leaves outer leaves: number ofleaves 10.6 12.8 per plant (at harvest) outer leaves: width (at 12.1 cm15.3 cm midpoint of plant including petiole) leaf: width narrow(Arcadia, medium Brigadeer) outer leaves: length (at 45.6 cm 57.8 cmmidpoint of plant including petiole) leaf: length (including petiole)medium long outer leaves: petiole length 17.5 cm 24.9 cm petiole: lengthMedium medium outer leaves: leaf ratio - 4:1 4:1 length/width outerleaves: leaf attachment petiolate petiolate outer leaves: wax presencestrong strong leaf: number of lobes medium absent or very few outerleaves: foliage color medium green medium green (with wax, if present)outer leaves: foliage color N189B 137A (with wax, if present; RHS colorchart value) leaf blade: color green (Claudia, Verflor) green leafblade: intensity of color medium medium leaf blade: anthocyanin absent(Claudia, absent coloration Embassy) leaf blade: undulation of marginmedium (Citation) weak leaf blade: dentation of margin Medium weak outerleaves: leaf shape narrow elliptic elliptic outer leaves: leaf baseblunt blunt outer leaves: leaf apex blunt blunt outer leaves: leafmargins straight straight outer leaves: leaf veins intermediateintermediate outer leaves: midrib slightly raised slightly raised leafblade: blistering absent or very weak absent or very weak (Buccaneer,Colibri) petiole: anthocyanin coloration absent (Claudia, absent of leafpetiole Embassy) outer leaves: attitude (leaf erect (80-100 degrees)semi-erect angle from ground) leaf: attitude (at beginning of semi-erect(Arcadia, semi-erect head formation) Asti, Civet, Claudia) outer leaves:torsion of leaf tip none none outer leaves: profile of upper planarconcave side of leaf F Head length of branching at base short short(excluding stem) diameter at widest point (at 12.7 cm 17.6 cm marketmaturity) depth (at market maturity) 8.8 cm 9.6 cm weight, markettrimmed (at 240.1 gm 395.3 gm market maturity) color medium green (Idol,medium green Verflor) intensity of color medium medium RHS color chartvalue for head 137A 137A color anthocyanin coloration absent (EarlyWhite absent Sprouting) intensity of anthocyanin coloration shape (atmarket maturity) circular (Esquire) circular dome shape (at market domeddomed maturity) size (at market maturity) medium** (Dundee, large EarlyMan) compactness/firmness (at medium medium market maturity) surfaceknobbling (at market medium (Southern medium maturity) Comet) textureMedium Medium bead size (at market maturity) medium medium flower buds(at market uneven in size (cat eye) even in size maturity) anthocyanincoloration of leaf absent absent axils (at market maturity) anthocyanincoloration of leaf absent absent veins (at market maturity) anthocyanincoloration of leaf absent absent blade (at market maturity) anthocyanincoloration of entire absent absent plant (at market maturity)anthocyanin coloration of leaf absent absent petiole (at marketmaturity) color of head leaves (at market green green maturity) RHScolor chart value for the N189B 137A color of head leaves bracts absentabsent secondary heads (at market completely absent** completely absentmaturity) (Scorpio, Zeus) number of secondary heads (at  0  0 marketmaturity) G Flower Color **choice for UPOV TG cream yellow only color155B 5C stalk color green green RHS color chart value for 137C 137Cflower stalk color male sterility absent present *These are typicalvalues. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that aresubstantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Broccoli Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof broccoli hybrid PX 05181827 involving crossing broccoli lines BRM51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99. Alternatively, in other embodimentsof the invention, hybrid PX 05181827, line BRM 51-1221 CMS, or line BRL51-99 SC*HP99 may be crossed with itself or with any second plant. Suchmethods can be used for propagation of hybrid PX 05181827 and/or thebroccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99, or can be used toproduce plants that are derived from hybrid PX 05181827 and/or thebroccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99. Plants derivedfrom hybrid PX 05181827 and/or the broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS andBRL 51-99 SC*HP99 may be used, in certain embodiments, for thedevelopment of new broccoli varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid PX 05181827 followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross with PX05181827 and/or broccoli lines BRM 51-1221 CMS and BRL 51-99 SC*HP99 forthe purpose of developing novel broccoli lines, it will typically bepreferred to choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one ormore selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desiredcharacteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirabletraits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seedgermination, seedling vigor, high yield, disease tolerance orresistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions.Consumer-driven traits, such as a head shape, nutritional value, andtaste are other examples of traits that may be incorporated into newlines of broccoli plants developed by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, hybrid PX 05181827 exhibits desirable agronomictraits. The performance characteristics of hybrid PX 05181827 were thesubject of an objective analysis of the performance traits relative toother varieties. The results of the analysis are presented below.

TABLE 4 Analysis of MSB Content of PX 05181827 Varieties Least-SquaresMeans for MSB (micromoles/gm/FW) PX 05181827 4.4159578 Heritage1.6311887

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those broccoli plants which are developed by aplant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all ofthe morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalbroccoli plant which contributes the locus for the desiredcharacteristic is termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. Thisterminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used onetime in the backcross protocol and therefore does not recur. Theparental broccoli plant to which the locus or loci from the nonrecurrentparent are transferred is known as the recurrent parent as it is usedfor several rounds in the backcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a broccoli plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny broccoli plants of a backcross in which aplant described herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desiredtrait from the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of the recurrent parent as determinedat the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmentalconditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of broccoli plants for breeding is not necessarily dependenton the phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs(RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence CharacterizedAmplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction(AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., 1985). Moreover, recent technological advances in vectorsfor Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer have improved the arrangementof genes and restriction sites in the vectors to facilitate theconstruction of vectors capable of expressing various polypeptide codinggenes. The vectors described have convenient multi-linker regionsflanked by a promoter and a polyadenylation site for direct expressionof inserted polypeptide coding genes. Additionally, Agrobacteriumcontaining both armed and disarmed Ti genes can be used fortransformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., 1985; Omirulleh et al., 1993; Fromm et al., 1986;Uchimiya et al., 1986; Marcotte et al., 1988). Transformation of plantsand expression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(1994), and Ellul et al. (2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., 1985), including in monocots(see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., 1990; Terada and Shimamoto, 1990); atandemly duplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35Spromoter (P-e35S) the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., 1988), theoctopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., 1989); and the figwort mosaicvirus (P-FMV) promoter as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and anenhanced version of the FMV promoter (P-eFMV) where the promotersequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem, the cauliflower mosaic virus19S promoter, a sugarcane bacilliform virus promoter, a commelina yellowmottle virus promoter, and other plant DNA virus promoters known toexpress in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., 1988), (2)light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter, Kuhlemeier et al., 1989; maize rbcSpromoter, Schaffner and Sheen, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-binding proteinpromoter, Simpson et al., 1985), (3) hormones, such as abscisic acid(Marcotte et al., 1989), (4) wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al.,1989); or (5) chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, orSafener. It may also be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters(e.g., Roshal et al., 1987; Schernthaner et al., 1988; Bustos et al.,1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a broccoli plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a broccoli plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., 1991). The RNA could also be a catalytic RNA molecule (i.e., aribozyme) engineered to cleave a desired endogenous mRNA product (seefor example, Gibson and Shillito, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces aprotein or mRNA which expresses a phenotype or morphology change ofinterest is useful for the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value: The RHS color chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightnessand saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS color chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g., Yellow-OrangeGroup 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of abroccoli variety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of thesingle locus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing techniqueand/or by genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a broccoli plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

A deposit of broccoli hybrid PX 05181827 and parent line BRM 51-1221CMS, disclosed above and recited in the claims, has been made with theAmerican Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801 University Blvd.,Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The dates of the deposits made were Apr. 13,2011, and Sep. 23, 2011, respectively. The accession numbers for thosedeposited seeds of broccoli hybrid PX 05181827 and inbred parent lineBRM 51-1221 CMS are ATCC Accession Number PTA-11825, and ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-12117, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, allrestrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits areintended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. Thedeposits will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years,or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of thepatent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary duringthat period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

REFERENCES

The following references, to the extent that they provide exemplaryprocedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, arespecifically incorporated herein by reference:

-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,175-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,365-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,275-   An et al., Plant Physiol., 88:547, 1988.-   Bird et al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991.-   Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989.-   Callis et al., Plant Physiol., 88:965, 1988.-   Choi et al., Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994.-   Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591, 1990.-   Ellul et al., Theor. Appl. Genet., 107:462-469, 2003.-   EP 534 858-   Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985.-   Fromm et al., Nature, 312:791-793, 1986.-   Fromm et al., Plant Cell, 1:977, 1989.-   Gibson and Shillito, Mol. Biotech., 7:125, 1997-   Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985.-   Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989.-   Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988.-   Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989.-   Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985.-   Omirulleh et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993.-   Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985.-   Roshal et al., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987.-   Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991.-   Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988.-   Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989.-   Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985.-   Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990.-   Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986.-   Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998.-   Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990.-   WO 99/31248

What is claimed is:
 1. A broccoli plant comprising at least a first setof the chromosomes of broccoli line BRM 51-1221 CMS, a sample of seed ofsaid line having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12117.2. A seed comprising at least a first set of the chromosomes of broccoliline BRM 51-1221 CMS, a sample of seed of said line having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12117.
 3. The plant of claim1, which is inbred.
 4. The plant of claim 1, which is hybrid.
 5. Theseed of claim 2, which is inbred.
 6. The seed of claim 2, which ishybrid.
 7. The plant of claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant is broccolihybrid PX 05181827, a sample of seed of said hybrid PX 05181827 havingbeen deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11825.
 8. The seed ofclaim 6, defined as a seed of broccoli hybrid PX 05181827, a sample ofseed of said hybrid PX 05181827 having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-11825.
 9. The seed of claim 2, defined as a seed ofline BRM 51-1221 CMS.
 10. A plant part of the plant of claim
 1. 11. Theplant part of claim 10, further defined as a leaf, an ovule, a floret,pollen, a head, or a cell.
 12. A broccoli plant having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the broccoli plant ofclaim
 7. 13. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant ofclaim
 1. 14. The tissue culture according to claim 13, comprising cellsor protoplasts from a plant part selected from the group consisting ofembryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, roottips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 15. A broccoli plant regeneratedfrom the tissue culture of claim
 13. 16. A method of vegetativelypropagating the plant of claim 1 comprising the steps of: (a) collectingtissue capable of being propagated from a plant according to claim 1;(b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferated shoots; and (c)rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising growing at least a first plantfrom said rooted plantlets.
 18. A method of introducing a desired traitinto a broccoli line comprising: (a) crossing a plant of line BRM51-1221 CMS with a second broccoli plant that comprises a desired traitto produce F1 progeny, a sample of seed of said line having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12117; (b) selecting an F1progeny that comprises the desired trait; (c) backcrossing the selectedF1 progeny with a plant of line BRM 51-1221 CMS to produce backcrossprogeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprising the desired traitand the physiological and morphological characteristic of broccoli lineBRM 51-1221 CMS; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more timesto produce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny that comprise thedesired trait.
 19. A broccoli plant produced by the method of claim 18.20. A method of producing a plant comprising an added trait, the methodcomprising introducing a transgene conferring the trait into a plant ofhybrid PX 05181827, or line BRM 51-1221 CMS, a sample of seed of saidhybrid and line having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-11825, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-12117, respectively.
 21. Aplant produced by the method of claim
 20. 22. The plant of claim 1,comprising a transgene.
 23. The plant of claim 22, wherein the transgeneconfers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, diseaseresistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified proteinmetabolism.
 24. The plant of claim 1, comprising a single locusconversion.
 25. The plant of claim 24, wherein the single locusconversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting of malesterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance,disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified proteinmetabolism.
 26. A method for producing a seed of a plant derived from atleast one of hybrid PX 05181827, or line BRM 51-1221 CMS comprising thesteps of: (a) crossing a broccoli plant of hybrid PX 05181827, or lineBRM 51-1221 CMS with itself or a second broccoli plant; a sample of seedof said hybrid and line having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-11825, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-12117, respectively; and(b) allowing seed of a hybrid PX 05181827, or line BRM 51-1221CMS-derived broccoli plant to form.
 27. The method of claim 26, furthercomprising the steps of: (c) selfing a plant grown from said hybrid PX05181827, or BRM 51-1221 CMS-derived broccoli seed to yield additionalhybrid PX 05181827, or line BRM 51-1221 CMS-derived broccoli seed; (d)growing said additional hybrid PX 05181827, or line BRM 51-1221CMS-derived broccoli seed of step (c) to yield additional hybrid PX05181827, or line BRM 51-1221 CMS-derived broccoli plants; and (e)repeating the crossing and growing steps of (c) and (d) to generate atleast a first further hybrid PX 05181827, or line BRM 51-1221CMS-derived broccoli plant.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein thesecond broccoli plant is of an inbred broccoli line.
 29. The method ofclaim 27, further comprising: (f) crossing the further hybrid PX05181827, or BRM 51-1221 CMS-derived broccoli plant with a secondbroccoli plant to produce seed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 30. A plantpart of the plant of claim
 7. 31. The plant part of claim 30, furtherdefined as a leaf, an ovule, a floret, pollen, a head, or a cell.
 32. Amethod of producing a broccoli seed comprising crossing the plant ofclaim 1 with itself or a second broccoli plant and allowing seed toform.
 33. A method of producing a broccoli comprising: (a) obtaining aplant according to claim 1, wherein the plant has been cultivated tomaturity; and (b) collecting a broccoli from the plant.